A man carjacked an L.A. County Sheriff’s Department bucket truck early Wednesday morning while a sheriff’s deputy was precariously positioned high above the ground in the bucket, authorities said.
The suspect conducted a takeover of a 2011 White Ford F550 utility bucket truck on the corner of Spring and Temple streets around 5 a.m. while two deputies were in the vehicle, according to a department bulletin. A deputy received minor injuries during a struggle with the suspect and was treated at a local hospital, according to a department statement.
A bucket truck, also known as a cherry picker, is a vehicle equipped with a hydraulic lift system and an extendable arm that ends in a bucket where a person can stand. It’s used to lift workers to hard-to-reach areas.
Two undercover deputies were using the truck to remove concealed cameras when a man believed to be in his 20s jumped into the vehicle, said he had to go to the hospital and began to drive away, law enforcement sources told The Times.
When the carjacking took place, one of the deputies was elevated in the bucket.
The other deputy, seated in the passenger area, realized his colleague was in danger and was able to lower the bucket to the ground, enabling his partner to jump from the truck. The second deputy then also jumped from the truck, according to law enforcement sources.
The vehicle was later recovered in Gardena in the 14900 block of South Western Avenue, according to a department statement.
The Sheriff’s Department is looking for the suspect, who was described as a Black male, 6 feet, 2 inches tall, 180 pounds and with a shaven head. He was last seen wearing a black shirt and blue jeans, according to the department’s bulletin.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau at (562) 946-7893 or leave an anonymous tip at (800) 222-8477.
